We Need To Shine Our LIghts In This Dark World

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." Nelson Mandela

 Are you shining your light today? Are you going out into the dark world and showing people the glow of God's love, the light of the joy that He gives His children, and the hope that we have for what lies ahead? If you are, and even if you haven't been doing so like you know you should have, do you realize that, with this light inside of us, we could not only bring God glory, but change the lives of others around us?
 Now, how exactly are we supposed to change other's lives with this light? Some of you may even be asking how it is that you shine this light that God has given you in the first place. But let me tell you today, that one of the best ways that you are both able to shine your light and change the lives of others, is to be kind. Just offer them a smile, give them help when they need it, forgive them when they do something wrong without holding a grudge, love them unconditionally, and just express to them the joy that God has placed inside of you. This, my friend, is how we should shine God's light in this dark world that needs it so desperately; and this is how we are going to change the lives of others.
 You see, I think that so many people are stuck in their society-created shell that tells them that they should hold a grudge, because why should they have to forgive them? It tells them that if someone did something wrong, then they aren't going to talk to them anymore, or that it's not "cool" to talk about God. But see, Romans 12:2 tells us not "to conform to the patterns of this world!" Don't let the views of what society holds as a "cool" person determine who you are in God, and when we shine our light, those people who are stuck in that shell are going to see that it is okay to break out and be the person that God has created them to be.
 Now do you see how to, not only shine your light, but how to go out and change other's lives, and the world, with it? This is what God has given us this light for! To honor HIm and bring others closer to Him. So let's all go out in the world today and shine our lights, for together, we can change the world, and those in it.